Americans still waiting for an Obama they can believe in

30 January 2014 — 3:00am

After five years in the White House, President Barack Obama needed a breakthrough idea in his State of the Union address to shake Americans out of their rhetorical flourish fatigue. He had to convince them he could deliver on his proposals for stronger growth and a fairer nation. For the large part he fell short.

While the US economic recovery may yet save his administration from lame duck status, President Obama's focus on taking his own direct action to sideline an obstructionist Congress highlights doubts about the limits of what he can do. It also reinforces that he expects more of what he called ''stale political arguments'' to block his way during the next three years.

It was no clearer than in the standout line, ''Let's give America a raise''. He implored businesses as well as state and local authorities and Congress to increase the minimum wage beyond his plan to lift it from $US7.25 to $US10.10 an hour for employees of companies fulfilling government contracts.

In a speech that reflected the frustration of a president elected twice with big ideas but who stagnates on 43 per cent popularity among potential voters, he said: ''Let's make this a year of action. That's what most Americans want.''

Australians will recall how the then prime minister Julia Gillard said in late 2010: ''Australians want their government to govern. So 2011 will be a year of delivery and decision.''

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As history shows, promising big and delivering small was a fatal flaw of the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd ALP governments. It may prove the same for the otherwise inspirational Obama presidency.

The Herald supports many of the Democrat's domestic policy concerns. Likewise, he deserves credit for taking a relatively cautious approach in world affairs. Certainly the President's State of the Union flourish was memorable in defence of his withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan as well as his diplomacy-first approach to the Syrian tragedy and pursuit of reduced nuclear capabilities in Iran.

''I will not let our troops go into harm's way unless it is absolutely necessary,'' he said. ''America must move off a permanent war footing.''

Still, he was forced into damage control on security breaches and, in a further sign of the domestic concerns, rarely mentioned the Asia-Pacific beyond how small business exporters will benefit from the proposed Asia- Pacific Partnership free trade deal which includes Australia.

He gloated that the US had overtaken China as the most desirable place for businesses to invest, the American jobless rate was the lowest in five years, technology startups were doing well and housing was on the rebound.

But in a clear defining of what the Democrats are for in the lead-up to Congressional elections in November and the 2016 presidential campaign soon after, he focused on inequality. Those on top incomes ''had rarely done better'' but those on average wages ''have hardly budged''.

Yet most of his solutions were echoes of past failures. A year ago he said: ''It is our generation's task, then, to reignite the true engine of America's economic growth - a rising, thriving middle class''; a government must open ''the doors of opportunity''.

On Wednesday it was worded as ''a set of concrete, practical proposals to speed up growth, strengthen the middle class, and build new ladders of opportunity into the middle class''.

Knowing that the US electoral cycle's mismatch between congressional and presidential elections makes it difficult for any White House agenda, especially in these particularly partisan times, he was hamstrung. He could only restate plans to expand manufacturing hubs and, beyond cutting red tape on big projects, called once more on Congress to reverse cuts to research and development programs.

On gun violence he could only plead for more action after last year's attempts at background checks on gun purchasers foundered. Likewise, he restated the plans to force power stations to reduce emissions and pushed for his rivals to accept a $US4 billion cut in tax breaks for fossil fuel industries to fund investment in fuels of the future.

Many expected much more. On his biggest legacy, the Obamacare health reforms, he admitted he could not expect to convince the Republicans but asked that they propose a better plan.

''If we work together; if we summon what is best in us, with our feet planted firmly in today but our eyes cast towards tomorrow - I know it's within our reach,'' he said. ''Believe it.''